Fluid pressure operated chair assembly clamp



Aprll 18, 1950 Filed Jan. 29, 1946 April 18, 1950 c. s. WILLIAMS 2,504,609

z FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED CHAIR SSEMBLY CLAMP Filed Jan. 29, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet- 2 INVENTOR.

April 18, 1950 I c. s. WILLIAMS A2,504,609

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED CHAIR ASSEMBLY CLAMP 'Filed Jan. 2 9, 1946 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 o I: o :2t L QG c I5@ @Il @1 S tx/William@ IN VEN TOR.

BVM

Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE FLUID PRESSURE OPERA'IED CHAIR ASSEMBLY CLAMP Charles S. Williams, Lexington, N. C. Application LJanuary 29, 1946, serial No. 643,977

(o1. ifm- 289) 1 Claim. l

This'invention relates to furniture clamps designed for use in positioning and setting the elements of furniture, such as chairs, during the assembling of the chairs.

An important object of the invention is to speed up the assembling operation in chair manufacture, eliminating the use of hand-operated fur niture clamps which are usually of the screw type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick acting clamp which will greatly facilitate the assembling and setting operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a furniture clamp constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is ,a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the movable clamping member.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the movable clamp.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a frame embodying legs 5 constructed preferably of cast iron material, the upper ends of the legs 5 being connected by the end bars 6 and side bars 1, the side bars being formed with inwardly extended ribs 8 providing tracks for the movable section of the clamp.

'The legs 5 are formed with webs 9 that have threaded openings for the reception of the bolts IIJ, which bolts provide a support for the platform I I on which the chair being clamped, rests, during the clamping operation. Due to the means of supporting the platform I I, it will be seen that the platform may be readily adjusted vertically, adapting the device for use in clamping chairs of various sizes.

The stationary section of the clamp is indicated by the reference character I2, and embodies end members I3 formed with grooves to accommodate the ribs 8 at opposite sides of the frame, permitting of adjustment of the clamp section l2, along the ribs 8. Blocks I4 of identical size, are positioned on the ribs 8 between the section I2 and end bar 6 adjacent thereto, thereby hold- 2 ing the section I2 stationary in its adjusted position.

The movable section of the clamp is indicated by the reference character I5 and comprises substantially U-shaped rib-engaging members I6, which slide over the ribs 8, as the movable member moves longitudinally of the frame, with respect to the stationary section of the clamp.

Parallel bars i1 are connected with the members I6 and hold the members I6 in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other.

Intermediate the ends of the bars I'I, is an enlargement lii against which the head I9 of the piston rod 2!) engages, the head being held in position by means of the ring 2 I, which is secured in place by means of the bolts 22. Secured to one end of the piston rod 20, is the piston 23 that operates in the cylinder 24 which is supplied with air under pressure, through the pipes 25 and 26. It will, of course, be understood that the air entering the cylinder 24 will be controlled by means of a valve, not shown, in the usual and well known manner.

Forming a part of each of the clamp members, is an upstanding article engaging member 21, the members 21 :being secured to the clamp members by means of the bolts 28. Secured to each of the clamp members and depending therefrom, are article engaging members 29, which are secured to the clamp members by means of bolts 30.

Gibs 3l are used within the rib engaging members It, and are held in position by means of the gib screws 32, and lock nuts I4', so that the gibs may be adjusted to insure a true operation of the clamp at all times.

The article engaging members 21 and 29 of the clamp, .are preferably padded for shape, so that when the chair to be clamped is positioned within the clamp, the clamp will conform to the shape of the chair.

In the use of the device, the elements and joints of the chair to be clamped, are glued, and the various section of the chair are placed together. The chair is now positioned within the clamp.

Air is directed to the cylinder 24, moving the piston 23 and movable clamping member inwardly against the chair, causing the sections of the chair to move together in a close t.

Air is now directed to the cylinder 24 through the pipe 26, whereupon the piston 23 is returned to its normal position, and the movable section of the clamp is moved away from the chair so that the chair may be readily removed from the clamp.

When the chair is held within the clamp, the

chair rests on the platform Il, so that the chair will be properly clamped.

What is claimed is:

A furniture clamp comprising a, frame embodying supporting legs, wide side bars secured to the upper ends of the legs, inwardly disposed longitudinal ribs formed on said side bars, the upper and lower edges of the ribs being substantially spaced from the upper and lower edges of the side bars, a stationary clamp section having grooves tted over the ribs adjustably mounting the stationary clamp on the ribs, gib screws extending from the stationary clamp section, engaging the ribs securing the stationary clamp section in its positions of adjustment, a movable clamp section having grooves tted over the ribs slidably mounting the movable clamp on the ribs, a piston rod connected with the movable clamp section at a point centrally of the movable clamp section, a piston on one end of the rod, a 20 2,114,390

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 92,531 Hooper July 13, 1869 136,193v Utley Feb. 25, 1873 1,348,148 Bergstrom Aug. 3, 1920 Lancaster Apr. 19, 1938 

